If you’ve been keeping up with the Pixel 3 rumors, you might have read that Google has requested to use video clips from a handful of YouTubers who have been bashing the design of the Pixel 3 XL leaks that have been floating around the last month or two. Some of these clips have stated that Google should “fire their design team” for the ridiculously large notch that sits atop the Pixel 3 XL’s display. While Google did mention that the clips would be used for the Pixel 3 launch event that’s coming up next month, it didn’t say how it would spin the clips. Front Page Tech is speculating that Google plans to use them because it is also planning to unveil a notch-less Pixel Ultra.

We applaud Front Page Tech for sharing the details of his exchange with Google, but we’re not buying the Pixel Ultra speculation. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL leaks we’ve seen over the past few months have not indicated that there’s a Pixel Ultra waiting in the shadows. We’re not saying that it’s impossible to keep a smartphone launch a secret, but that last time any of us were surprised to see unexpected hardware unveiled at a launch event was when HTC introduced the HTC Vive back in March of 2015. What makes the Pixel Ultra even more unlikely is the fact that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have been leaked so much that Google could literally walk on stage during the launch event and simply give us the price and retail launch dates of the two phones.

Personally, I wouldn’t object to a notch-less Pixel Ultra. I’m not a huge fan of the latest notch crazy that seems to be spreading like an epidemic, but the notch we’ve seen on the Pixel 3 XL leaks is simply out of control. Unfortunately, there’s no real evidence that such a device will be unveiled at the Pixel 3 launch event on October 9th.

What’s your take on the Pixel Ultra speculation and Google’s interest in the Pixel 3 XL notch-bashing clips? Share your thought in the comments.

The Android 9 updates for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T are now available, delivering a slew of new features. Besides the original Pixel, these are the only other phones from 2016 which are being updated to Android 9.